Pasco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida.
As of 2000, the population was 344,765. Its county seat is Dade City,
Florida.

History

Pasco County was created in 1887 from the southern part of Hernando
County. It was named for Samuel Pasco, who served in the Confederate Army,
the state legislature and in the United States Senate from 1887 to 1899.
The earliest towns were Anclote, Blanton, Dade City, Earnestville, Fort
Dade, Macon (Trilby), and San Antonio. During the Florida land boom of the
1920s, New Port Richey became the winter home of silent screen star Thomas
Meighan and golfer Gene Sarazen. The county experienced significant
population growth beginning in the 1960s in the region along the Gulf
coast and, more recently, in the area near Tampa.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of
2,248 km˛ (868 mi˛). 1,929 km˛ (745 mi˛) of it is land and 319 km˛
(123 mi˛) of it (14.18%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

Hernando County, Florida - north

Sumter County, Florida - northeast

Polk County, Florida - southeast

Hillsborough County, Florida - south

Pinellas County, Florida - southwest

Demographics

As of the census˛ of 2000, there were 344,765 people, 147,566
households, and 99,016 families residing in the county. The population
density was 179/km˛ (463/mi˛). There were 173,717 housing units at an
average density of 90/km˛ (233/mi˛).

There were 147,566 households out of which 23.50% had children under
the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living
together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and
32.90% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of
individuals and 15.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or
older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was
2.77.

In the county the population was spread out with 20.20% under the age
of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64,
and 26.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years.
For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18
and over, there were 89.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,969, and the
median income for a family was $39,568. Males had a median income of
$30,974 versus $23,802 for females. The per capita income for the county
was $18,439. About 7.60% of families and 10.70% of the population were
below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 7.70%
of those age 65 or over

Unincorporated Communities Not CDPs

Transportation

Bus service

Pasco County Public Transportation provides bus service in West Pasco,
Dade City and Zephyrhills. Amtrak formerly provided passenger rails
service to Dade City, but the stop was terminated in late 2004.